Dry-mine-laying submarine



Get. 7, 1930. H. E. GRlEsHABER ET AL DRY MINE LAYING SUBMARINE Filed July l, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 7, 1.930. H. E. GRIESHABER ET AL 1,777,304

DRY MINE LAYING SUBIARINE Filed July l, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented @ct 7, 1930 Fl-TC HUGO E. GRIESHABER AND ELWIER R. DUNCKLEE, OF N EW LGNNON, CNNECTICUT, AND JOHN F. TRUDEAU, lOF BAYONNE, NEVI JERSEY, ASSGNORS TO ELECTRIC BOAT COMPANY, OF GEST-GN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY DEY-vNE-LYNG SBMARINE Application filed July 1,

This invention relates to mine laying submarine boats, and more particularly to a submarine boat for layinv mines by what is known as the dry system.

One of the main objects oi our invention is to provide a submarine boat having mine stowage tubes so disposed as not to occupy valuable space in the hull, these tubes having associated therewith means for transferring the mines from the tubes and for discharging them eXteriorly of the hull. Another object is so to dispose the mine stowage tubes in relation to the hull structure as to obviate any increase in the dimensions thereof, thus preventing interference with the speed or radius of action of the boat. A further object is to provide a boat in which the stowage tubes and associated parts are so disposed as to provide an extremely simple compensating system while also preventing any material change in trim of the boat during discharge of the mines.

It is also an object of our invention to provide simple and highly efficient means for laying or discharging the mines while permitting the same to be examined immediately before discharge to determine the condition of the gear thereof. Further objects and advantages of our invention will appear from the detailed description.

ln the drawings:

Figure *l isa fragmentary horizontal sectional view takenthrough the mid-ship portion of a. submarine boatr constructed in accordance with our invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View through the mid-ship portion ot the boat; Y Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure l;

` Figure 4f isa section taken substantially on line 41E-e of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a section' taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure l; y

Figure 6 is asection taken substantially on line 6 6 of Figure 1.

' The boat is, in general, of known construe tion and comprises anV inner pressure hull l and an outer hull 2, the space between these two hulls constituting ballast, compensating ieee. serial no. 375,103.

and uel tanks, in a known manner. At each side iol the pressure hull l, and in the space between the two hulls, we provide two tubes 3 which are disposed in superposed relation. rlhese tubes extend forey and aft of the hull and are preferably, though not necessarily, disposed horizontally.

` The tubes 3 are water-tight and are adapted to withstand full subniergence pressure. The iorward ends of the rtubes are closed at 4. At thoi rearward ends the tubes open into spaces 5 which constitute eXtensions ot a mine room 6 within hull l at the mid-ship portion thereof. lviine racks are mounted in spaces 5 igor vertical adjustment upon supporting pillars 7a, and, when` the mines have been loaded into the tubes and upon these racks, removable stanchions 8 are secured at the inner sides of the spaces 5, as in Figure 5.

rlhe stowage tubes 3 open aft, that is, toward the stern ot the boat. A mine diss charge tube 9 is provided in alignment with each of the upper tubes 3 and closely adjacent rack 7. rlhis discharge tube is provided, at each end, with a 'gatevalve l0. These valves operate in casings ll which extend through the pressure hull l and into the mine room 6. The valve l0 may be operated manually from within the mine room G, tho we preier to provide a suitable mechanism for assuring quick operation ot the valves, this mechanism comprising cylinders l2 to which compressed air may be supplied in a known manner, and suitable mechanism operating in the cylinders and having operating connection with the valves. liny other suitable or preferred means may be eniployed tor operating the gate valve. The tube 9 and the associated valves constitute a lock 'for transferring a mine from the rack to the exterior oit the hull l.

The att end ot this tube 9 opens into a space 13 in which is mounted an ejector le.

rlhe ejector lei is ot cylindrical shape and is secured upon a shaft l5 rotatably mounted in space 13, the axis of this shaft being parallel to the lock tube 9. A gear 16 is secured on the ait end of shaft l5 and driving` connection, in a suitable manner, with a shaft (itl 17 which extends through a. stutiing box 18 through the inner wall 13)Ll of space or compartaient 13. This shaft driven by an electric motor 19 disposed within the mine room. The ejector 14. comprises two semicylindrical mine receiving members 20 which are disposed at diametrically opposite sides of t-he ejector, these members being connected by spaced brace elements or webs 21. The upper one of the members 2() is disposed in alignmentwith and adjacent the aft end of lock tube 9 to receive a mine moved aft therefrom into the ejector. Preferably, though not necessarily, we provide the gearlG with two contact members 22 disposed in align ment with the mine receiving recesses of the members 20 for engagement by the end of a mine which has been moved into full position in such member. The contact members 22 are interposed in the circuit of motor 19 and serve to closethe motor circuit when the mine has been moved into full position into member 2l) of the ejector. The motor then turns the ejector inboard through an arc of 180 degrees, thus discharging the mine into a vertical discharge well V1 extending from compartment 13 to the bottom of the outer bulli at the side theerof, the mine being discharged through this well by gravity. The other member 2O of the ejector is then in the upper position and is disposed to receive a second mine from the lock tube 9.

Each of the tubes 3 and 9 is provided with suitable conveying mechanism for moving the mine through the tubes in either direction and for transferring the mine from the rack to the tube 9 of the lock. Similar conveying mechanism is also associated with the rack 7 and the ejector 14 for moving the mine onto and ot of the rack and transferring them from tube 9 into member 2l) of the ejector. Conveying mechanism of this character is known in the art and need not be illustrated nor described in detail. We have indicated such mechanism diagrammatically by pinions 24, in Figure 2, disposed above tube 3, rack 7, and ejector 14, and in the upper portion of the lock tube 9. These various sets of pinions may be driven, in a known manner, by an electric motor 25 disposed in the mine room, and are d isposed to mesh with racks on the mines 2G for moving them in desired direction in accordance with the direction of drive of the pinions. This conveyor mechanism provides means whereby the mines can be loaded into the stovage tubes and can be transferred therefrom to the ej ector 14 with facility.

Vhen it is desired to lay or discharge the mines, the valve at the forward end of the tube or lock 9 is opened, the other valve remaining closed. A mine is then moved from the rack 7 into tube or lock 9.` and the valve at the forward end of this lock is then closed. Sea wateris then admitted to lock 9 from a compensating tank 27 located in alignment with and below lock 9 and communicating therewith by a pipe 27 provided with a valve 28 for controlling communication between the compensating tank and the lock.

The valve at the aft end of lock 9 is then opened and the mine is moved aft into the upper member 20 of ejector 14. Vhen the mine is in full position in the ejector, it actuates contact member 22 thus closing the circuit of motor 19, which results in the ej ector being turned inboard through an arc of 180 degrees thus causing the mine to be discharged through well 23 in the manner previously described. As soon as a mine has been moved out of lock 9 into the ejector, the valve at the aft end of the lock is closed and `the water in the lock is blown into the compensating tank 2G. le also provide a small quick flooding compensating tank 29 located inside the mine roomand approximately in line with the ector, with a sea water capacity equivalent to the negative buoyancy o f one mine. This tank is flooded full from the sea while a mine is being discharged, so that the weight of water taken in offsets the net weight in sea water of the mine which is dif'- f charged, thus maintaining the original balance of weight and buoyancy of the vessel. As soon as this compensating tank 29 is full, the sea valve is closed and the water which has been admitted thereto is transferred to main compensating tanks 30 and 31 disposed forward of tube 3 and aft of compartment 155, respectively. This leaves the small compensatlng tank 29 empty and'in condition for reception of asecond compensating quantity of sea water when the succeeding mine is discharged from the ejector 14;.

Instcadof havin g but one small compensating tank 29, two or more of such tanks may be provided when it is desired to discharge the mines rapidly and the time element becomes of more than usual importance.

Suitable means is provided whereby water from the compensating tank 27 may be transferred to compensating tank 31. During the movement of the mine from lock 9 into the ejector 14, water is caused to flow from the main compensating tank 31 forwardly to main compensating tank 30, this forward movement of the water oifsetting the moment due to the rearward or sternward movement of the mine. In practice, the first mine is discharged from rack 7 at one side of the hull, the second mine being discharged from rack 7 atvthe other side of the hull, the rack at the first side of the hull is then lowered to receive a. mijne from the lower tube 3 and is then raised into the position illustrated in Figure 2 and this mine is then discharged, after which the rack at the other side of the hull is lowered to receive a mine from the lower tube and this rack is then raised and such mine disw charged. A mine from the upper tube at the side of the hull from which the first mine was discharged is then transferred to the rack and discharged, after which the rack at the other side of the Ahull receives a mine from the upper tube which mine is then discharged, the racks being then lowered to receive mines from the lower tubes, which mines are then raised with the racks and` discharged, the discharge' of the mines from the tubes continuing in this order until all or as many of the mines as desired have been discharged.

It is not essential, however, that the mines be discharged inthe order stated, and the order of discharging` the mines may be varied as Vconditions may require, though, where conditions will permit, we prefer to discharge the mines in the order stated as this prevents disturbing the trim of the boat. After all of the mines have been discharged, the compensating tanks and 3l are full of water, these tanlrs being of proper capacity to compensate for the mines. It is to be particularly noted that the stowage tubes, as well as the main and supplemental compensating tanks, and the locks and ejectors, are disposed at the mid-ship portion of the.' boat. This provides a simple arrangement which facilitates compensation and enhances trim and stability of the boat. i In order to facilitate shipping of the mines, we provide a hatch 32 which opens into the mine room 6. This hatch has a suitable door '32, and by raising this door the mines may readily be lowered into the mine roem, through hatch 32, as indicated in Figure 2. After the mines have been lowered into the mine room, the stanchions 8 having been removed, they are transported by a suitable trolley, which travels upon rails 33 eX- tending transversely of the mine room and at opposite sides of hatch 32, to the racks 7 which have been moved into their lower' position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2, so as to be aligned with the lower stowage tubes 3.

The mines are then successively loaded onto the racks and, by proper operation of the conveying mechanism, are moved rearvardly into the lower tubes. After the lower tubes have been completelyy loaded, the racks are raised into their upper position and the upper tubes are loaded in like manner,after which one mine is placed upon each of the racks. In this manner the tubes and the racl-:s can be loaded with facility.

Each of the tubes 3 is capable of containing nine mines which, with the two mines supported upon the racls in alignment with the upper tubes, makes a total of 38 mines which can be carried by the boat without taking up valuable space withinthe pressure hull. The length of the stowage tubes can be' varied within limits and we do not, therefore, limit ourselves to the particular number of mines which these tubes carry.

By disposing the tubes between the hulls, valuable space in the pressure hull is not taken up and the necessity of increasing the dimensions of the board to accommodate the mine stowage tubes is eliminated. It is also to be noted that, by employing a small number of mine stowage tubes, the mines can be readily laid or discharged therefrom by comparatively simple mechanism and all necessity of employing a large number of discharging mechanisms for this purpose is avoided. A further advantage is that all of the mechanisms for transferring the mines from the tubes and for discharging them, are controlled from the mine room 6. The advantage of having the tubes 3 open into the spaces or extensions 5 of the mine room is that the mines can be inspected immediately before discharge thereof to determine the condition of the mine gear and, if necessary, proper alterations or repairs therein can be made.

lhat we claim is:

l. vIn a mine laying submarine boat, a mine stowage j tube, a rotatably mounted mine ejector comprising a plurality of mine receiving and discharge members, means for transferring mines fromthe tube to said members, and means controlled by positioning of themines in said members `for intermittently rotating the ejector a distance equal to the distance between two succeeding receiving and discharge members, the continued rotation of the ejector successively disposing said members to `discharge the mines therefrom.

2. In a mine layingv submarine boat, a mine stowage tube, a mine ejector rotatably mounted on an axis parallel to the tube and having a mine receiving and discharge member disposed in endivise alignment with the tube, means for transferring mines endwise from the tube to said member, and means for intermittently rotating the ejector, the means for rotating the ejector being controlled by positioning of a mine in the mine receiving and discharge member.

3. ln a mine laying submarine boat, a mine stowage tube mine ejector mounted for rotation in one direction' and on an axis parallel to the tube and having a plurality of axially Aarranged mine receiving and discharge members spaced about the same, one of said members being disposed in endWise alignment with the tube when the ejector is in normal position, means for transferring mines endWise from the tube to said members, and means controlled by mines position in the receiving and discharge members for intermittently rotating the ejector a distance equal to the distance between two successive members.

Ll. In a mine laying submarine boat, a mine stowage tube, a mine ejector rotatably mounted on an axis parallel to the tube and iso having two diametrically opposite and axially arranged mine receiving and discharge members, said members opening radially outward for discharge of a mine therefrom when in inverted position, the upper one of the members being at thetop of the ejector in alignment with the tube and there being an unobstructed mine discharge opening beneath the lower member when the ejector is in normal position, means for transferring mines endwise fromy the tube to said receiving and discharge members, a confining member extending about the e'ector from thel upper position thereof to said opening, said confining member being concentric with the ejector and disposed to hold a mine in the upper receiving and discharge. member during travel thereof from its upper position, to its lower position, and means for intermittently rotating the ejector through an are of 180 degrees.

5. In a mine laying submarine boat, a mine stowage tube, a mine ejector rotatably mounted en an axis parallel to the tube and having two diametrically oppositeI and axially arranged mine receiving and discharge menibers, said members opening radially outward for discharge of a mine .therefrom when in inverted position, the upper one of the meinbers being at the top of the ejector in alignment with the tube and there being an unobstructed mine discharge opening beneath the lower member when the ejector is in normal position, means for transferring mines endwise from the tube'to said receiving and l discharge members, a confining member extendin about the ejector from the upper posit-ion t iereof to said opening, said confining member being concentric with the ejector and disposed to hold a mine in the upper rcceiving and discharge member during travel thereof from its upper position to its lower position, and m :aus `tor intermittently rotating the ejector through an are of 189 degrees, said means being controlled by the positioning of mines in the mine receiving and dis-- char e members.

6. n a mine laying submarine boat comprising an inner hull and an outer hull, a mine stowage tube vbetween the hulls and disposed fore and aft thereof, an ejector compartment between the hulls aft of the tube, an ejector in the compartment, said ejector bei rotatable on an axis parallel to the tube and aving two axially arranged and diametrically opposite mine receiving and discharge members opening outward radially o'l the |ejectoi; said compartment having a bottom mine discharge opening and a wall concentric with the ejector and extending about the seme from the upper portion thereof to the opening, said wall being disposed toconne a mine in the upper receiving and discharge member during travel thereof from its upper receiving position to its lower disprising an inner hull .and an outer hull, a` Vmme stowage tube between the hulls and disposed fore and aft thereof, an ejector coinpartrnent between the hulls aft of the tube, an ejector 1n the compartment, said ejector being rotatable on an axis parallel to the tube Aj:

and having two axially arranged and diametrically opposite mine receiving and discharge members opening outward radially of the ejector, said compartment having a bottom minedischarge opening and a wall concentric with the ejector and extending about the same from the upper portion thereof to the opening, said wall being disposed to contine a mine in the upper receiving and t scharge memberduring travel thereof from its upper receiving position to its lower discharging position, the upper member being in alignment with the tube and the lower member being vertically aligned with said opening .when the ejector is in normal position, means for transferring mines from the tube to thev receiving and discharge members, and operating means for intermittently turning the ejector through a half rotation, said operating means being controlled by positioning of mines in the mine receiving and i discharge members.

8. In a mine laying submarine boat, mino discharging means comprising, a rotatably mounted ejector having a mine receiving and discharge member mounted thereon and opening outward radially thereof, and operating means for intermittently rotating said ejector, said operating means being controlled by positioning of a. mine in l member.

9. In a mine laying submarine boat, mine discharging means comprising, a rotatably mounted ejector having a plurality of mine receiving and discharge members mounted thereon and opening outward radially thereof, and operating means for intermittently rotating said ejector through a distance equal to the distance between successive receiving and discharge members, said operating means being controlled by positioning of mines in said members.

l0. In a mine laying submarine boat comprising an inner hull and an outer hull, a mine stowage tube' between the hulls and disposed fore and aft thereof, an ejector rotatably mounted on an axis parallel to the tube and having axially arranged mine receiving and discharging members opening outward radially of the ejector, said memicc bers being successively brought into alignment with the tube by rotation of the ejector, means for transferring mines endwise from the tube to the receiving and discharge members, and means for intermittently rotating the ejector.

11. In a mine laying submarine boat, a mine storage tube disposed fore and aft of the hull, an ejector rotatably mounted at the side of the hull for rotation on an axis parallel to the tube, said ejector having axially arranged mine receiving and discharging members opening outward radially of the ejector for discharging the mines at the side of the hull7 said members being successively brought into alignment with the tube by rotation of the ejector, means for transferring mines endwise from the tube to the receiving and discharge members, and means for intermittently rotating the ejector.

witness whereof we, the said HUGO E. GRIESHABER and ELMER R. DUNoKLnn, hereunto subscribe our names at GrotornConnecticut, this 21 day of June, 1929.

HUGO E. GRIESHABER. ELMER R. DUNCKLEE.

In witness whereof I, the said JOHN F. TRUDEAU, hereunto subscribe my name at Bayonne, New Jersey, this 24th day of June JOHN F. TRUDEAU. 

